“A man picking up the bill in the beginning of a relationship is a tradition that’s still firmly intact,” says financial advisor Carrie Coghill Kuntz.

It seemed to be a case of preaching to ForbesWoman’s very vocal choir. “I would never pay on the first date,” says Diana Gaspar on Facebook. “If I do, he will never see me again.” Teresa McLaurin agrees: “I’m old fashioned. I think he should always pay.”

“Whoever sets up the date should be prepared to pay,” says commenter Ratzo Rizzo. “But honestly, if the guy doesn’t insist–even if he didn’t initiate the date–move on.”

Rizzo’s comment echoes the sentiment laid out in Casserly’s piece. The financial decision of paying the bill–even as early as the first date–can be a portent of how a man and woman view money in a long-term relationship. He wants to split the bill? Consider yourself warned: He is not the treating type. He vehemently insists on taking care of the check? You’re in good hands. Or he’s a big spender.

“I prefer to split the bill,” says Yanina Shevchenko. “It makes things much easier.” This alternate point of view might not be so bad, so long as both parties agree. What splitting the bill does do–as opposed to the man de facto opening his bill fold–is force money talk, a subject largely considered way-too-taboo for dating.

Kiri Blakely’s piece, “Are You and Your Partner Financially Compatible,” makes a case for frank financial discussion when it comes to money making, spending and saving. As financial expert Philip DeMuth warns: “People who are careless with money will eventually be careless with their relationships.” Ouch.

“As a marriage therapist for years, I can attest to the fact of how often money is a stumbling block to a happy marriage,” comments Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill on ForbesWoman.com. “Differences in how to manage it, but more importantly, the deceit of all kinds that occurs.”

Back on Facebook, Leslie Brown agrees that the finance talk is important–no responsible single woman wants to take on someone else’s debt. “As a single woman in this environment, it is so important to know about your own and your potential mate’s finances,” she writes. “You do NOT want to marry someone’s crazy debt. That is just plain stupid.”

Then the conversation turned more personal. In “Separate Or Joint Accounts,” ForbesWoman Managing Editor Mary Ellen Egan told readers that she and her live-in boyfriend of nine years, Harold, “have never fought about money. Ever.” How is this possible?

They keep their finances separate. Sarah Pollinger, a financial consultant at
Wells Fargo
, concurs via LinkedIn: “My husband and I have always kept our money separate.” In what she says started out of laziness when they first married has worked out. “We have three accounts: individual checking accounts and a joint account, which is equally put into to cover monthly household bills. We also contribute equally to my son’s college fund and our retirement accounts. It’s worked well for us for over seven years!”

On Facebook, Ritesh Mohta disagrees: “It’s a joint affair. Only thing is to keep a check on your expenses and be faithful to each other.”

But the general consensus from the community is largely to err on the side of caution–and separate bank accounts. Gen Lee does, “otherwise he’d give all our money away to charity!” M.m. Diaz agrees that separate-but-equal banking keeps everything in her relationship “clean and concise.”

Financial discussions are an essential part of any coupling. And while the issue who pays for the first date can be awkward, the conversation might as well start there before it ends there.